Natural versus Narrow ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

The natural way of things is to look out for ourselves and neglect others to do so.  The nature of humans is to get their wants and needs met.  When I say this, I include my own motivations and desires.

The narrow path, however, can be learned through honesty and discipline.  Let us return to the understanding of our hard deck.  We are to love the Father with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  We are to love others as the Father loves them.  Last night someone asked me how we live that out practically.

My answer helped clarify the natural versus the narrow path for me.  The narrow path is to see the love of the Father in every situation.  It is to choose to let that be the focus.  Here is the example I gave my friend.

When sitting in a restaurant waiting to be served, I consider the things in front of me.  There is cutlery rolled in a napkin with that little paper tape around it.  I have also have a large cup of Diet Coke.  How do I show my love for the Father in that moment?  In that space, it begins with my thoughts and their attunement toward gratitude and grace.

First, let us consider the rolled bundle of cutlery.  I unwrap it.  As I do, I recognize that hardworking servers have to roll those bundles as part of their “side work” during their shift.  That neatly rolled knife and fork in that napkin are the product of a server creating a certain number of them at the beginning or end of her shift.  If I am going to focus on loving the Father, I have to express gratitude for the work that goes into that small convenience. 

Further, a dishwasher made sure that the knife and fork were clean.  Someone ordered quality napkins to roll them in and the paper band used to seal them and create an air of fancy.  I like to play with the paper bands.  It is gratitude and love that are to be my focus. 

My drink, a Diet Coke with no ice and a slice of lime, was delivered exactly as I requested it.  Sometimes, due to the automatic nature of putting ice in a beverage glass, this is not true.  I think grateful thoughts that our server is attentive and accurate.  I take a moment to pray for her wellbeing.  I watch as she attends other tables.  I can see how busy she is and make sure that we are all ready to order so we do not cause her to make extra trips.  It is in this intentional observance of what is going on around us that we show love to the Father

Loving the Father with all that we are is the narrow way of painting a very broad stroke.  That stroke is capturing every thought, action, attitude, and emotion to serve his desire that we love all that he has made.  When the server does not get the drink right, my response must be one of kind patience.  When the food is not right, one does not blame the server. 

Commands such as the one to think of others better than ourselves are not to demean us.  They exist to teach us to narrow our focus to loving others so that we are unoffendable.  It is letting the things that come at us be met with our impenetrable armor of love and faith.  In recognizing that we can capture every thought to direct it toward love for the Father, we can then live out a life of walking the narrow path of love for our fellow travelers. 

This is my sole intent.  I fail every single day at some point.  I do, however, determine to reset my thinking each time I do and work toward building loving kindness and being lovingly unoffendable.  It is hard.  It requires discipline.  It is, however, the most peaceful thing I have ever done Dear Reader.  You are always welcome to join me in the effort.  I treasure your presence as we travel together.

Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable, but in the end, it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Natural versus Narrow ~ Mirkwood

Greetings Dear Reader,

In The Hobbit, Gandalf very clearly warns the Dwarves and Bilbo that they should not stray from the path whilst passing through Mirkwood.  His warning is serious and stern.  Our troop of heroes, of course, do not listen.

They talk themselves into running off the path through failing to believe Gandalf that the pass will see them through the forest.  They then add departure from the narrow path to their unbelief. They become trapped by giant spiders and captured by Elves. 

In this case, that departure does not lead to a broader way.  It leads to deeper darkness and further delay toward their goal.  Too often I have known the path to take and have chosen something that I knew would not lead me home.  Unlike our treasure seekers, the path can be found again easily.

When we leave the path of faith and following, returning to it is as easy as choosing to do so.  The difficulty is that this does not immediately mitigate the damage done whilst we were on some other false path.  Forgiveness by the Father and restoration to his path are instant.  The damage we have done to others in our poor choices does not simply disappear.  All of our choices to pursue darker paths damage others. 

Part of regaining our footing on the journey home is seeking reconciliation with those we wrong whilst we pursue our own darkness.  It is not necessary for us to seek the Father again.  It is vital to us doing so with a clear vision and clean hearts. 

The need, Dear Reader, is to step out of whatever darkness we have created for ourselves.  I have had to face things long avoided once I did.  I have had to confront all of my failures and seek out those harmed by them.  I find the path by loving those I seek no matter their reaction to my recognition of my failure.

Some have been loving and gracious.  Others have rejected me further.  My response must be to love them all as deeply as I am able.  My obligation is to leave the door unfettered from my side and allow for them to find the path that is intended for their journey.  My desire to control situations and force outcomes is part of that darker path that I can no longer travel.

What I do see is that it does not matter where you are.  You can return to the path and find your way home from wherever you are.  Our obligation when you do is to love, forgive, and encourage you along the journey.  In doing this, we may find that we travel better together than we ever did. 

Come as You Are – Crowder

Come out of sadness

From wherever you've been

Come broken hearted

Let rescue begin

Come find your mercy

Oh sinner come kneel

Earth has no sorrow

That heaven can't heal

Earth has no sorrow

That heaven can't heal

So lay down your burdens

Lay down your shame

All who are broken

Lift up your face

Oh wanderer come home

You're not too far

So lay down your hurt

Lay down your heart

Come as you are

There's hope for the hopeless

And all those who've strayed

Come sit at the table

Come taste the grace

There's rest for the weary

Rest that endures

Earth has no sorrow

That heaven can't cure

So lay down your burdens

Lay down your shame

All who are broken

Lift up your face

Oh wanderer come home

You're not too far

Lay down your hurt

Lay down your heart

Come as you are

Come as you are

Fall in his arms

Come as you are

There's joy for the morning

Oh sinner be still

Earth has no sorrow

That heaven can't heal

Earth has no sorrow

That heaven can't heal

So lay down your burdens

Lay down your shame

All who are broken

Lift up your face

Oh wanderer come home

You're not too far

So lay down your hurt

Lay down your heart

Come as you are

Come as you are

Come as you are

Come as you are

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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Natural versus Narrow ~ Past Paths

Greetings Dear Reader,

There are turning points in my past that I would change if I could.  I imagine how things would be were I to have gone right instead of left.  I work out beautiful endings that would be if I had only made a better choice.  I increasingly realize what a waste of creativity that is.

If we keep with the metaphor of travel, I recall a vignette from a dear friend of mine.  When he was young his family had a regular vacation spot at the beach.  It was a six-hour drive from his home to the beach where they would take long summer breaks.  It was a great time for his entire family.

One year, as the family headed toward vacation, his mother became convinced that she had left the iron on, laying on the ironing board.  She told his father who reassured her that it was not on and that all would be well.  It is important to note that the family was already two hours down the road toward their destination.

My friend watched his parents argue.  His dad offered to call the person caring for the family cat and have the iron thrown into the yard.  This was not good enough.  Fully frustrated, the dad turned the family van around and headed the two hours back to home.   The iron was not on but it did get a final resting place in the back yard.  My friend related that he developed a life-long aversion to irons that day.

We make mental and physical choices every day that are the next step in life.  We choose them for good or ill.  The difficulty is that we allow the wrong ones to hold us prisoner for far too long.  The past has power and it is supposed to have it.  The difficulty is that we give it the wrong power and too long a lease in our minds.

The purpose of the past is to serve as a reminder of blessings, lessons, and to be a prologue to what is ahead.  Regrets should be momentary and fleeting; dismissed by the truth of forgiveness and focus on the future.  The other improper power we give the past is that we carry false guilt that is never ours to carry. 

The past is there to teach us but is not supposed to harm us.  No matter who else tries to use it to do so, Christ wishes us to journey by grace in freedom from the past.  As we travel, we are not supposed to try and retrace paths we can never find again.  We are instead supposed to learn from them so that we make the right choices on the path ahead. 

As we travel together, Dear Reader, let us agree that we will not use the past to harm ourselves or each other.  We will not measure people by their history but by where they are in the story of Christ.  We can journey forward without guilt and shame.  We can be free to love others and be lovingly unoffendable by those who would use the past to harm us.  We can forgive more deeply and fully.  Our burden will be lighter and there will be more joy to share.  I am in and I hope you are as well. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Natural versus Narrow ~ Highway or Byway

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have on two occasions traveled a great distance on US Highways instead of the interstate.  One was a motorcycle trip up old US 19 from Georgia to Erie, Pennsylvania.  I was not in a hurry and young enough to not care about the weather or sleeping niceties. 

It is still my favorite long drive that I have taken.  I hope to someday produce something worth reading from the journey.  I have notes of the adventure and the lessons I learned along the way.  What made it great was being forced to see my travel at a leisurely pace.

I love driving and I love long distances.  There is usually not time to take the byways and so I stick to the highways.  I am working at living a life that allows more roads less taken.  The point is that if we are willing to invest the time, the narrow path has more to offer than the highway.

We get to highways via the byways.  At some point, we choose to leave the narrow road for the broad fast path.  At some juncture, we realize that it is the narrow way that holds the most for us.  If we define the narrow way as following Christ, and his prime directive is love, then how can we hope to find better on another path?

The natural desire is to follow a broader and easier way.  If, however, our narrow path is to love others in every act, there unfolds from that infinite possibilities.  There are so many adventures available if we make the journey about the travel and not the destination.

We are not ignorant of our destination but the things we are supposed to do are involved in the travel.  The opportunities to voluntarily show love, give hope, and evidence faith are here.  Once we arrive at the destination of our pilgrimage, there will be no need for hope or faith.  Love will be the way of all paths there.   It is then, my obligation to choose the byway of love over the highway of self every time. 

Every stop along the way has the potential to touch the heart of a fellow traveler.  Each encounter is the opportunity to deliver hope and entice faith in others through love.  If the byway we travel is only love, it blocks out everything that would distract others from finding faith and hope.  It puts us in the right place at every turn of the journey.

I have been so captive from my dreams by my own choices that I have failed to walk the narrow byway often.  I am rebuilding everything about my journey so that I can follow the path of love more fully and consistently.  I want to spend my remaining days encouraging others to do the same.  I want them to reach for the path that is only theirs.  I want to use love to give them faith and hope to follow their byway, their dreams.  If you will journey with me, Dear Reader, we can do it together and make the pilgrimage all the more delightful.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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Natural versus Narrow ~ Change and Choices

Greetings Dear Reader,

I visited a glen that I have not seen in twenty years.  I went there to pray for a friend.  The change in it was drastic but it was still open enough to see the sky.  It is still winter and the ground is damp from perpetual rain.   Come Spring the ground will be filled with wild daffodils. 

The trees surrounding the place are taller.  An old ash tree has fallen or been felled by the wind.  The place seems still undiscovered by other humans.  There is one spot where a large animal, likely a deer, takes rest often.  I spent my time in the glen I call Daffodils praying under the sunny sky, thankful that it was still here and relatively undisturbed.

On the drive back, I was pondering the changes.  I spent my time thinking that I was thankful that none of the many changes had transformed the place into something different from my very fond memories.  There were many firsts and lasts in this place long ago.  Then it occurred to me that the thing in that glen that was the most changed was me.

When I grew to love that place, I was making bad choices based on changes beyond my control.  I was allowing the changes to change me in ways that were not healthy and deviated from the path I am supposed to walk if I hope to follow Christ well.  My faith was intact but my following became poor due to my failure to control how the changes transformed me.

My crisis back then arose out of the mounting pain of events that had piled up on my mind and spirit.  My failure was that in the midst of all the changes coming at me, I did not control how those things altered me.  I allowed my heart and mind to follow the path that seemed most comforting to me instead of choosing the narrow path that would be the most beneficial.

Things that we cannot control happen and they change us, Dear Reader.  What we can control is how they change us.  What we can choose is our response to the changes.  When pain and loss assail us, we can still follow in faith.  We can choose to stay on that narrow path that is love for all others. 

I am privileged to see a friend who is in the midst of a storm of change handling those changes by following Christ at a closer pace.  Choosing how the changes have impact and change him/her make all the difference.  This is the nexus in which we must live if we are to follow faithfully.  This is where I am choosing to be and must remain. 

When Job lost almost everything in a day, he chose that the changes would change him into a man of deep faith and more devout love for the Father.  Please, Dear Reader, let us encourage each other into the same narrow choice as we are changed into that which we must become.  I am resolved to do this and treasure your company as we continue the journey home together.  What do you say?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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Natural versus Narrow ~ Good for Bad

Greetings Dear Reader,

Yesterday morning, after writing my BLOG, I had an hour before I needed to get dressed for church.  I chose to work on the novel that is currently my focus for creation.  There is another in rewrite and one in final edit.  Within minutes I hit my writing stride and the words were flowing as fast as I could move my fingers.

Humming along through dialog between two of my primary characters, I was abashed when my phone reminded me it was time to get ready.  I paused, typed out one more interchange, and then stopped.  The boys in the basement kept churning out the dialogue.  I captured another half page. 

Then my mind began to mess with me.  It suggested, “You know, writing is an act of worship for you.  You could stay here and keep writing.  You do not HAVE to go to church to worship.”  I looked at the clock and compromised.  I pondered that if I was in the shower in fifteen minutes, that I could get there in time to pray for the worship team and still be there for church. 

The words and the time sped by.  My mind whispered, “Look how good it is going.  Just remain here and write.  God will understand.”  Then I realized what was happening.  You see, I had a commitment to some people at church.  I needed to be there to keep that commitment.  I saved my work, made a few brief notes, and dressed for church.

There were no fireworks or choirs of angels lauding my choice.  Rather, there was a clear understanding that it is possible to do good things for the wrong reason.  It does not matter how clever my dialogue is if it is written because I am avoiding my obligations in other areas.  I spent most of the day writing and the pace and ease were still there. 

It is a natural thing to keep going when we are on pace.   It is the narrow thing to break our stride for the needs of others.   If I believe that my writing is an act of worship, then I must believe as well that it will be what it is supposed to be at the right times.  Even writing requires my faith that the Father is working it all out as it should be.

As we walk the narrow path home, Dear Reader, we must manage our inner dialogue so that it speaks to what is right even when choosing between two things that are good.  It is always good and right to share this journey with you.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

#aramisthorn

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Natural versus Narrow ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

When I was a lad, I loved exploring my Grandfather’s farm.  There was a broad path that led to the area of the wood where he would fell trees for firewood.  He would carefully choose the tree, cut it down, and leave it lay for a week.

His purpose, as he explained it, was to allow the “critters time to find a new home.”  He would then take the tractor out after the aforementioned week.  His tools were an ax, a chainsaw, and chains.  His goal was to get the tree down to manageable logs that he could drag behind the tractor and process into cordwood later.

Watching him work entertained and taught me but I soon grew distracted.  I was allowed to wander as long as I stayed on the path.   It was, as I said, a broad path.  On a particular day, I found a smaller track leading in a direction away from my permitted path.  I did not know it was a deer trail.  I began to walk down it.

I saw the usual signs that deer had passed and that excited me.  After following the path for a bit, I was excited to tell my Grandfather of the deer sign and suggest the path for our next hunting season.  When I turned to retrace my steps, the trail did what many do in such circumstances.  It disappeared. 

Calling out to my Grandfather seemed useless, so I turned to make my way back on my own.  Realizing that I was not finding the path, I tried to follow the sound of the chainsaw.  What I did not consider was that I was in a small depression and the sound was echoing from the opposite direction off of a rock outcropping.  I grew further from my goal instead of closer.

When I reached the rocks, I realized that I was lost.  I knew the place but not the way back without my Grandfather to guide me.  Climbing on top of the flat of the rock, I looked to see if I could find my way back.  Fear and worry gripped me so firmly that I was losing my ability to think well.

I waited for the chainsaw noise to stop and followed another instruction of my Grandfather’s.   He told me often when we would venture out, “If you are in trouble, do not call out for me.  Others could hear it and ignore not because they are not your Grandfather.  Instead, as loud as you can, shout ‘Help, Help, Help.”   We had practiced it until he was sure my seven-year-old mind grasped the concept and the method.

From the top of that rock, I did as he had instructed.  My small voice carried through the air to his keen ears.  He signaled that he had heard me by revving the chain saw three times.  His further instruction had been that he would answer when I called for help with three repeated sounds.  Once he answered I was not to move unless I was in physical danger. 

Further, I was to count to fifty slowly and call out again.  He would answer again.  I would call, he would rev the chainsaw, and I would begin to count.   This went on for about half an hour until he found me.  When he appeared out of the wood, I ran to him.  He set down the chainsaw and took me in his strong arms asking if I was hurt.

Once he was certain that I was not, he handed me his canteen and insisted that I drink as deeply as I could.  We sat here in the grass and rested for a bit.  He gently asked how I got so far from the path.  I explained about the deer trail and offered that it was a path too.

His gentle smile made the loving rebuke that I had not stayed the true path easy to take.  He knew the deer trail and led me right back to it.  There we stopped and he pointed out the tracks of a wolf and a bobcat.  He explained that there are many dangers to following the wrong path even for good reasons.

That, Dear Reader, is where we are going to walk for a bit.  No matter how much we wish not to, we find ourselves on the wrong path at times.  I want to stand at this fork in the way and ponder the things that are involved in finding the right path.  Please walk with me and share all the thoughts and questions you wish.  I treasure your company.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

#aramisthorn

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

Novels: From My Publisher or on Amazon          

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Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com

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